Team Structure

Rescue Level

Rescue level members of PMR are field-deployable mission leaders who are experts in the specialized skills of mountain rescue. These skills include first aid, search and rescue operation, high-angle rescue, crevasse rescue, helicopter operations, field communications, avalanche safety and rescue, backcountry navigation, highline “Tyrolean” traverses and snow shelters.

Members can be voted to Rescue level by the PMR Board of Directors after displaying sufficient leadership skills and sound judgment in actual rescue situations. Rescue level members must also be in adequate physical condition to handle the demands of our strenuous rescue work.

Rescue level members are usually on-call 24 hours a day for SAR missions.

Support Level

Similar to Rescue level members, Support level members are field-deployable and have mastered the specialized skills of mountain search and rescue. However, Support level members are still developing their mission leadership abilities.

Just like Rescue level members, Support level members must be in adequate physical condition to handle the demands of our strenuous rescue work. They are also usually on-call 24 hours a day for SAR missions.

Trainee Level

Trainee level members are field-deployable (with the exception of newly accepted members) but have not yet mastered all the skills required for Support level status. They are competent in most climbing and survival skills and own their own climbing equipment.

Trainees play a key role in the Unit, providing mission support under the close supervision of Rescue and Support level members. They have two “training” years – a training year is September 1st through August 31st – to gain the technical rescue skills for advancement to Support level.

Just like Support and Rescue level members, Trainee level members must be in adequate physical condition to handle the demands of our strenuous rescue work. They are also usually on-call 24 hours a day for SAR missions.

Once accepted, new members are not eligible to participate in rescue missions until specific training and performance requirements are completed.

New Trainee level members are eligible to participate in all training sessions, regardless of their field deployability status.

Associate Level

Associate level members are an important component of our team but are not field-deployable. They are admitted on occasion to perform “behind-the-scenes” duties such as equipment and vehicle maintenance, fundraising, newsletter publication, public education, special events planning, IT support and assorted administrative functions.

Our Associates demonstrate that you don’t have to be a skilled mountain rescuer to make a valuable contribution to the mission of PMR.